Comments on Root Simple: Root Knot Nematodes, Meliodogyne spp.

We certainly have plants that mysteriously won'...

2011-01-14T20:41:33.931-08:00

We certainly have plants that mysteriously won't grow. but so far inspection of the roots hasn't revealed the telltale galls

One more idea, related to the sesame flour: Growi...

2010-02-19T22:06:39.910-08:00

One more idea, related to the sesame flour:

Growing actual sesame plants. Apparently one of them covers about a square foot, they produce a lot with little irrigation, and the roots repel nematodes and leave the soil in great shape.

I bought some bulk-bin black sesame because I've heard it's more popular in the Middle East...I'll see how well it grows this spring. And I'm certain what I don't plant will be tasty.

How did the beneficial nematodes work out? I'm...

2009-11-20T09:46:18.463-08:00

How did the beneficial nematodes work out? I'm dying to find out whether or not I should invest in these.

I am also battling the evil RKNs. With limited funds and a quickly passing planting window, I took the route of sterilizing the soil in my raised beds with boiling water. Sadly, I had to kill my earthworms and whatever else was doing good.

I haven't checked the roots on my new plants, but they are already looking much healthier than the last batch in same soil. Root knot nematodes are the herpes of the gardening world and I hate them!

I was recently given a tomato plant by a neighbor. Normally I would have popped it into the soil without thinking twice. With my newfound suspicion I checked the roots. Completely covered with galls. I lopped it off and stuck the cuttings into the garden, tossing the infested roots. Fingers crossed.

Joel, Excellent suggestion-noticed that groworgan...

2009-11-12T09:12:34.255-08:00

Joel,

Excellent suggestion-noticed that groworganic.com has sunn hemp for sale in bulk. I've also heard about the use of mustard and, of course, certain strains of marigolds (Seeds of Change sells a nematodal marigold). Was reading that it's important to figure out the species of nematode causing the problem in order to grow the correct cover crop. The university of Florida has a $25 nematode test--don't have the URL, but if you ask Mr. Google you can find out.

One more possibility: Sunn hemp (not related to ac...

2009-11-11T20:41:25.870-08:00

One more possibility: Sunn hemp (not related to actual hemp...therefore, legal...).

It's a legume, used as a fiber crop, forage, and green manure.

I had the same problem. Marigolds didn't work...

2009-10-28T16:46:28.745-07:00

I had the same problem. Marigolds didn't work for me. I solarized a couple of beds this summer and that has seemed to help considerably. I also reintroduced beneficial fungi and bacteria from Stamets (didn't noticeably help when I used it on infested soil, but after solarization I wanted to make sure they were in there).

I've read about the marigolds too, so I plant ...

2009-10-14T09:59:36.255-07:00

I've read about the marigolds too, so I plant marigolds (organic plants of course) where there is an infestation. I had nematodes in the Cuke beds this summer, planted marigolds and the problem seems to be gone. We shall see next spring for results though.

I've used a ground sesame seed product that se...

2009-10-02T06:33:40.143-07:00

I've used a ground sesame seed product that seemed to be effective in lessening the damage.

And lately I've been doing chop-and-drop with (specifically) Mexican Marigold (Tagetes minuta), based on reports that the leaves are deterrents to nematodes. No results to report yet.

Here in Australia I've read of two other possi...

2009-10-01T07:10:22.453-07:00

Here in Australia I've read of two other possibilities.

The first is growing mustard as a green manure crop. http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2534493.htm
I am now growing in beds that have had the mustard treatment, but its early days so I'm not sure of how well its worked.

The other remedy is molasses - 'half a litre to two litres of water and spread over one and a half square metres of affected garden area'.
I've yet to try this.

I don't have a nematode problem, so I've n...

2009-09-29T14:28:43.966-07:00

I don't have a nematode problem, so I've never tried this, but I have also read from more than one source that marigolds can control nematodes.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/NG045

I've read that saprophytic fungi prey on nemat...

2009-09-29T13:33:46.110-07:00

I've read that saprophytic fungi prey on nematoded when they are starved of nitrogen. You might consider blending in wood chips or driving in stakes or building hugelkultur beds as a way of culturing predatory fungi.

(Fungi, by the way, are also rich in chitin, so increasing the proportion of fungi to bacteria may also help the way crab shells do.)

It seems, from the paper I linked to above, that soil has to be nitrogen-starved in order for wood to help with nematodes, so this strategy might only be good in legume beds or other places where scarce N is OK.

I toured the organic garden of a local landscape a...

2009-09-29T12:49:01.688-07:00

I toured the organic garden of a local landscape architecture professor. He had just discovered root knots on many of his plants, and he beleived that he had them for years but the plants survived because he used lots of biologically active compost. Of course, if your compost heap doesn't get hot enough, it could spread the buggers everywhere.

It seems to be working for me- I had nematode problems last year, but barely any this year. I compost like a maniac.

Bermuda grass is nematode resistant, and marigolds kill them. That makes for a slow but easy way to get rid of them. Crab shell based fertilizers are said to get rid of them. Nematode eggs are coated in chitin, which is what crab shells are made of. When lots of chitin is present, fungi arise to eat it. Neptune's Best makes a product like that, but it is expensive.